Raymond Clark Harris

Raymond Clark Harris, 83, of Drasco, Ark., died Friday, Sept. 2, 2011. He was born Jan. 1, 1928, in Bondurant, Iowa, to the late Clark and Ethyl Harris. Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Anna Stubbs Harris; one sister, Ruth Beymer of Indianola, Iowa; two sons, Kendall Harris and wife Sue of Houston, Texas, Doug Harris and wife Phoebe of Royal Palm Beach, Florida; and daughter, Cindy Rowlett and husband Jim of Cabot, Ark. He was a loving "Pa" to nine grandchildren, Cathy Harris, Matthew Harris, Seth Harris, Andrew Harris, Carly Harris, Joseph Harris, Kevin Rowlett, Michael Rowlett and wife Emily and Jacob Rowlett; and three great-granddaughters, Kayla Harris, Sonja Mingola and Emily Mingola. Raymond was a Naval Veteran of World War II. He enjoyed a 24 year career with Boeing Aircraft, starting out as a sheet-metal shop hand in Witchita, Kan., and leaving the company as an executive in Seattle, Wash. Raymond built dozens of vacation homes on Greers Ferry Lake and was the aircraft and engine mechanic for the Batesville Regional Airport from 1976 to 1979. He worked in the Nuclear Energy Field in the late 1980s and retired to his woodworking shop where he marketed and sold hundreds of seasonal home welcome signs. Raymond embodied the greatest traits of the Greatest Generation. There was nothing he couldn't weld, wire, plumb, pour, frame, fabricate, overhaul and operate. He never missed an opportunity to share these many skills and talents to help others and will be missed by all of you who knew and loved him. A private ceremony is planned at a later date. Cremation arrangements are by Heber Springs Funeral Home. Online obituary: www.heberspringsfuneralhome.com.